UPDATE: Update on Local Happenings

Things seem to be back to normal at our place. Well, as normal as can be expected. Our front porch offers a view into two of the court rooms in the Centre County Court House so we had more involvement in the two big court cases in Bellefonte this summer than we wanted. The Sandusky trial may have attracted more media attention, but the so-called Russian Mafia trial was a little frightening. The police coverage included snipers on the surrounding buildings. (All of this action did give my husband a chance to hang out with part of the NBC crew.)

More recently, a fire that destroyed the hotel and theatre in our block caused us to be evacuated from our home. This was the fourth beautiful, historical building that our town has lost in the last few years. Our home is the third building up the hill and it was a very good thing that it was a calm, damp night. It has probably gone through every person’s mind what he would grab in such a case. We did think of the important papers and our medicines as well as the “always-packed-in-case–somebody-asks-me-to-go-someplace-interesting” bag. That took care of the important stuff.

I did go back in the house for my address book. To my surprise, I found two women taking pictures off my walls. Having strangers going through my house did make me a little uncomfortable although I am sure that they were being helpful. The pictures were not a priority; my brother and our daughter would have copies of them.

We got back into our house about 6:30 in the morning, threw everything that we had taken out the night before on the dining room table, except for that bag packed to go interesting places, and headed to the Seneca Casino. I felt that I needed, and deserved, some R&R. Now everything is back in its proper place, as I said, back to normal.  The only thing that I cannot find is the grocery gift cards that are used for our community “soup kitchen”. When I think of what could have been, that seems a minor thing.

Back to normal also means that book reviews will be starting again this week. My reading did slow down, but I never go anywhere without something to read and I love sharing. Now you have had my apologies if you were expecting a book review last week.